Willow finished the last set of her clan's cultivation technique, Pillars of the Earth, and stopped. She was tempted to keep going, but the warnings from her seniors rang out in her mind. She had finished building her foundation. It was strong and solid, and more than capable of supporting her on her path to immortality. Now she just needed to form her dantian. However, she held back.
Her grandmother had told her not to take the final step, not yet at least. There was something she needed to learn first. So, despite her impatience, Willow stopped for the day and examined the chamber she was in.
It was a massive stone cavern almost the size of Fort Stone Pillar itself. Spirit energy flooded the chamber. Thick stone columns supported the ceiling, preventing it from caving in. Despite being deep underground, the chamber was warm, almost uncomfortably so, even for a cultivator at Willow's level. Sweat covered her body, despite the tunic and trousers she wore.
Formations reinforced every surface of the cavern as an additional precaution. There were also countless obfuscation and protection formations protecting this chamber, for it contained Clan Stone Pillar's most sacred secret.
In the center of the chamber, which was some distance away from Willow, stood a stone pillar made from Heaven Scorned Marble. It was bigger than the pillars that supported the ceiling, but it was broken so it didn't quite reach the top. Countless runes and sigils had been carved into the pillar in an endless fractal pattern. There were so many, that it was impossible to read them all. If Willow was foolish enough to try, she would lose her mind.
Only an Immortal could read them and remain sane.
The pillar contained profound secrets, and just by being near it, Willow could hear whispers on the edge of her awareness. The closer one got to the pillar, the louder those whispers became. However, this was as close as Willow dared to go. Her cultivation was too low, and her mind and soul too weak, for her to get any closer. If she tried, she would be destroyed.
In fact, she wouldn't have been allowed to enter this chamber at all, if her grandmother hadn't ordered it. Under normal circumstances, only those in the Core Shaping stage or above were allowed here, and only by spending a large amount of merits. However, for the sake of raising her cultivation faster, the clan council had made an exception.
The sooner they formed an alliance with Clan Wind Dance, the better.
The pillar was the heart of her clan, and from which they derived their name. Thus, they called it Stoneheart Pillar. It was why her clan had settled here and built Fort Stone Pillar, so that no one else could take it from them. It was the source of their power, and they guarded it jealously. Willow suspected that it was one of the most mystical places in the Myriad Rivers region, if not the most mystical place. In addition to the profound secret it contained, the pillar drew a large of amount of spirit energy into the chamber.
No one knew where the pillar came from. Their clan had found it during the chaotic years following the Shattering. Most believed that it was once part of the Imperial Palace of Clan Sky Throne. When Heavenly Island was destroyed, pieces of it were scattered throughout the world. It was possible that this pillar was one of those pieces.
Willow spent a few more minutes studying the pillar from a distance, before she turned and left the chamber. There was only one entrance and exit, which was guarded all day and night from intrusion. She stepped through the door and nodded to the pair of guards, both in the Core Shaping stage, before making her way up to the main part of Fort Stone Pillar. Since she had reached the point where she could start to form her dantian and step into the Energy Gathering stage, she decided to wash up before paying her grandmother a visit.
However, on the way to her rooms, a servant intercepted Willow.
"Matriarch Ava wishes to see you immediately," the servant said with a bow.
Willow thought about saying that she needed to clean up first, but her grandmother said to see her immediately. Grimacing at her current state, Willow followed the servant to her grandmother's office. When they arrived, the servant bowed and left.
Willow heard the shouting before she even reached the door to her grandmother's office. When she opened it, the noise hit her almost like a physical force. Grandmother Ava was sitting behind her malachite desk, an annoyed expression on her face. Great Uncle Caleb, Grandmother Ava's younger brother, stood before the desk with his fists on the surface.
Like Grandmother Ava and Willow, Great Uncle Caleb had sun kissed skin, dark hair, and hazel eyes. He was tall and muscular, second only to Willow. His features were rough and rugged, as if he had been carved from granite. Despite his appearance, Willow had many warm memories of her great uncle. He always treated her with kindness, doting on her as if she were his own granddaughter. She was the next best thing, since he wasn't married, and had no children of his own.
Willow didn't know why that was, but she heard rumors that Great Uncle Caleb had sworn off relationships ever since an incident that happened to him decades ago, though no one knew exactly what happened. The details of that incident were one of Clan Stone Pillar's biggest mysteries.
"-do they think they are?" Great Uncle Caleb all but shouted. "First they proposed Lucius Wind Dance as Willow's husband, but then backtracked and told us that Willow must now prove herself before they would be willing to meet with us. Only they've changed their minds again, and want to meet with us now. Why are we even bothering with these people, Sister? Surely we don't need them that much, not if they're going to treat us with such blatant disrespect."
Grandmother Ava gave her younger brother a hard look.
"I understand your anger and frustration, Little Brother. I do. I feel the same way. However, we do need Clan Wind Dance's warriors. They are better suited to dealing with the Pit Viper Sect than we are. As long as this alliance happens, I don't care how many times they change their minds. Frankly, I'm happy they've decided to meet with us sooner rather than later."
Great Uncle Caleb growled at this, but Grandmother Ava ignored him. Instead, she focused on Willow, who stood just inside the room. She gave Willow a warm smile.
"Willow, come in and take a seat." She looked at her brother, a cold expression on her face. "You too, you big lug. I'm tired of looking up at you."
"Yes, Grandmother Ava."
Willow walked deeper into the room and sat down. Great Uncle Caleb sat down as well, albeit with great reluctance.
"Given what you must have overheard, Willow," Grandmother Ava said once they both sat down. "You can guess why I called you here."
"The alliance with Clan Wind Dance," Willow said.
As she spoke, Willow felt her heart constrict. So, it was going to happen. She was going to get married.
"Yes," Grandmother Ava said. She tapped an open scroll on her desk. "I received word from Patriarch Darin. He has agreed to the alliance and the trade deal. In exchange, you will marry his grandson, Darian, and join his household."
When she heard this, Willow closed her eyes and took several breaths. It was as she feared. She was going to get married to a mortal. No. She could handle marrying a mortal. Mortals could cultivate, and so could their children. Willow herself was proof of that. Marrying someone who couldn't cultivate was another matter altogether.
Willow made a promise to herself, right then and there, that she would never have children with Darian. She didn't care. He could marry someone else if he wanted children. She would rather do without.
Deep in her heart, in the part that she didn't show to anyone else, Willow felt a part of her dreams shrivel up and die.
Great Uncle Caleb let out a sound of disgust.
"I can't believe you agreed to this, Sister," he said. "Marrying Willow off to Lucius Wind Dance made sense. He is the young genius of Clan Wind Dance, and is considered by many to be the Young Master. Even I'm impressed by the boy, and you know my feelings on those twinkle toed dancers."
Willow opened her eyes and covered her mouth to hold back a laugh. The corners of Great Uncle Caleb's lips turned up a little as he glanced at her from the corner of his eye. However, they turned down again in a frown.
"Marrying Willow to this Darian, a cripple and a defect, is beyond insulting. She is your only grandchild. Our bloodline ends with her. How could you do this to our family? More importantly, how could you do this to her?"
Grandmother Ava's eyes narrowed.
"That wouldn't be a problem if you just accepted one of the marriage proposals you've received over the years. The sister of the Burning Cloud Sect's sect leader keeps sending me letters asking after you."
Great Uncle Caleb waved her words off.
"You know why I can't do that, Sister." For a brief moment, he had a haunted look on his face before he shook his head and focused on Grandmother Ava again. "Stick to the original plan. Send me to Mt. Wind Dance and let me see this Darian Wind Dance for myself. Let me judge his character, if nothing else. Otherwise, there is no way I can accept Willow marrying someone so far below her. It's demeaning."
"Great Uncle Caleb," Willow said in a soft voice. "It's fine. I will do what I must for our clan."
He whirled around to face her.
"No, it's not fine. You deserve better." He ran his hand through his hair. "It would be one thing if you fell in love with a man, even a cripple, and wanted to marry him for that reason. I wouldn't like it, but I could accept it. At least you would be happy then." He gestured to the scroll on Grandmother Ava's desk. "I can't accept this. I won't. This will just sentence you to a lifetime of misery."
"Little Brother, that is enough," Grandmother Ava said in a voice that brooked no argument. "This marriage, this alliance, is happening. I will not budge on this, so don't even try." She shook her head. "As for sending you to Mt. Wind Dance as we planned, there isn't enough time. We're still dealing with the aftermath of Elder Alden's death. By the time I could spare you, it'll already be time to meet with Clan Wind Dance. Since that will be the case, I might as well see this Darian Wind Dance for myself."
Willow perked up at this.
"When are we meeting with Clan Wind Dance, Grandmother?" she asked.
"Not more than two months from now," Grandmother Ava said. "Patriarch Darin invited us to Mt. Wind Dance, but after all of the games his people have played I'm feeling petty. Instead, I'll insist that we hold our meeting at Crescent Moon City. It's neutral territory, so neither side will have an advantage. It'll be even better if we can get Clan River Heart to host it. While they have connections with both of our clans, they have somewhat stronger ties to us."
"In that case, let me go with you," Great Uncle Caleb growled. "Give me ten minutes alone with Darian, and I'll make sure that he knows to appreciate Willow and ensure her happiness."
Grandmother Ava's lips quirked up at this.
"As entertaining as that sounds, I have to say no. I need you to stay here and keep an eye on things. You are our clan's strongest warrior. There is no one else I'd trust to defend our people while I am gone."
While Great Uncle Caleb looked unhappy with this, he nodded.
Willow, on the other hand, tried to focus on the positive. She had never been to Crescent Moon City before. If nothing else, she had that to look forward to.
"If it makes either of you feel better," Grandmother Ava said. "I'm not just going to hand Willow off to this Darian. He needs to prove himself in some capacity."
Willow furrowed her brows.
"How do you plan to do that, Grandmother? Darian Wind Dance isn't a cultivator. What kinds of tests did you have in mind?"
Grandmother Ava shrugged.
"I don't know yet. I'll think of something. Even if Darian isn't a cultivator, he could still have other skills and talents. The Wind Dances are famous for their musical abilities. Also, depending on his means, he might be able to provide you with a comfortable life, if nothing else. More than that, Clan Wind Dance is more than capable of supporting you in your cultivation." Her eyes narrowed. "In fact, I'll make sure they do. It is the least they owe us."
Her grandmother's words warmed Willow's heart. While the situation was far from ideal, outright terrible in fact, it helped that her family had her back. She would have to leave them behind when she married Darian and moved to Mt. Wind Dance, since she was joining his household, but that didn't mean she would never see them again.
Great Uncle Caleb stood up.
"I should go," he said. "There's a lot of work that needs doing, if we're going to go ahead with this."
Great Uncle Caleb put a hand on Willow's shoulder and gave it a brief squeeze before he left.
***
Willow cleared her throat after she was alone with her grandmother.
"Yes, Willow?" Grandmother Ava asked. "Is there anything else?"
"I'm ready to form my dantian," Willow said. "That was why I ended my training early. You said to let you know first before I started."
While her marriage wasn't something to look forward to, at least she had her cultivation. She no longer needed to rush towards the Energy Gathering stage for the sake of the alliance with Clan Wind Dance, but there was no reason to slack off either. In fact, she had even more reason to reach the Energy Gathering stage. Once Clan Wind Dance joined the fray, their alliance would take the fight to the Pit Viper Sect. Willow had no intention of sitting this fight out.
Grandmother Ava's expression lit up when she heard Willow's words.
"Perfect," she said.
She pulled a stone token from out of her desk and tossed it to Willow.
"Here," Grandmother Ava said. "This will let you enter my immortal cave. Meet me there in an hour. I need to retrieve something from my rooms."
Willow, surprised by her grandmother's statement, almost didn't catch the token.
"Why do we need to meet at your immortal cave?"
"I'll explain when we get there. Do you know the way?"
Willow nodded. Her grandmother's immortal was located near the chamber containing Stoneheart Pillar.
"Good. Again, meet me there in an hour."
With that, Grandmother Ava dismissed her. Willow headed to her rooms. On the way there, she passed by Junior Brother Roderick and a few of his flunkies. He sneered at her, but otherwise said nothing. Good. He was learning.
Willow gave herself a quick wash, before making her way over to her grandmother's immortal cave. She had just arrived when her grandmother made an appearance.
"Well?" Grandmother Ava said. "What are you waiting for? Go inside."
Willow did as her grandmother commanded and went inside the immortal cave. It was a large, circular chamber made entirely of gray stone. Yellow crystals bathed the area in a warm light. For most people, the ceiling was high enough to avoid causing issues. Not Willow. Her hair scraped the top.
A large and intricate formation was carved into the floor of the chamber, with a cushion occupying the center. It made Willow feel dizzy just looking at it. She didn't know much about formations, other than the basics, so she couldn't tell what this one did. However, she noticed that the formation contained Earth elemental stones.
Willow noted that the spirit energy in the room was strange. There was an abundance of it, more so than she had expected, but it was all concentrated around the formation. It was thickest in the middle, where the cushion was. The spirit energy also had a strange feel to it, almost as if it had a flavor.
"Sit over here," Grandmother Ava said, pointing to an area along the outer edges of the immortal cave. There were no seats or cushions, but Willow didn't mind. During her training, she had often spent several hours sitting on the cold, hard floor. "There are a few things I need to explain to you before you form your dantian."
The two of them sat across from each other.
"What I'm about to tell you is…" Grandmother Ava paused to think things over. "It's not a secret, but it's something we keep from those still in the Foundation Establishment stage. This is a common practice among cultivators."
Willow's brow furrowed.
"What do you mean?"
"Before I tell you, I want you to explain to me what the dantian is."
Willow frowned at this, wondering what her grandmother was getting to. Still, she obeyed.
"The dantian is akin to an organ within a cultivator's being, at least for those who have reached the Energy Gathering stage," she explained. "It's not, but it's easier to think of it that way. It is both physical and spiritual in nature. The dantian both stores spirit energy within the cultivator, and refines it for the cultivator's use. It also increases a cultivator's ability to gather spirit energy, cycle it through their meridians, and control it. Everything I've learned tells me that the dantian is one of the most important parts of a cultivator's being."
Grandmother Ava smiled.
"Good. You're right, it is one of the most important parts of a cultivator's being. Which is why forming the best dantian possible is imperative."
Willow stared at her grandmother.
"Dantians have differing qualities?" she asked.
"Yes, they do. The quality of a dantian is determined by its color. There are seven kinds, a spectrum which correspond to the colors of the rainbow. Red is the worst kind of dantian, while violet is the best. The quality of a dantian is important, because it affects everything you just explained to me. Ability to store spirit energy, ability to control spirit energy, cultivation speed, etc. There's more to it than that, but you don't need to worry about that for now."
This took Willow by surprise. She hadn't realized that this was the case.
"Why haven't I heard about this before?" she asked. "Shouldn't this be common knowledge?"
"It is, just not among Foundation Establishment cultivators. At least, that is the case among our clan. I don't know about others. The reason for that is simple. Our clan has learned that if Foundation Establishment cultivators are too worried about the quality of their dantian, they end up taking actions that result in weaknesses in their foundation. We found that keeping them ignorant until they are ready produces better results. This is why we tell our juniors to wait before they start to form their dantian." She sneered. "Those that ignore the wisdom of their seniors and start the process early deserve what they get, which is mediocrity."
Willow nodded. Within cultivator clans and sects, it was the duty of the senior members to advise and guide their juniors. It was the duty of the juniors to listen to their seniors and support them. Selfish individuals, who only took but didn't give, didn't last long.
"What determines the quality of a dantian, then?" Willow asked.
"A number of factors, but a few are more important than others," Grandmother Ava said. "The purity of one's spirit root is a factor. The purer the spirit root, the better."
On that front, Willow didn't need to worry. Her spirit root well above average in terms of purity. That was how she managed to reach the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage in about five years.
"Another factor is the quality and quantity of spirit energy," Grandmother Ava continued. "The higher of each, the better. The elemental aspect of the energy also plays a role."
"Spirit energy can have an elemental aspect?" Willow asked, surprised.
"Yes," her grandmother said with a smile. "Something else we keep from our Foundation Establishment cultivators. Not that it would do you much good. Only those in the Energy Gathering stage and above can tell the difference." She tilted her head. "Though you might be able to sense something, given your level."
Willow frowned in thought.
"The spirit energy in here has a certain taste to it, but I can't tell anything about it. Is that what you mean?"
"It is. This is why elemental stones are so valuable. They affect the elemental aspect of the spirit energy in their vicinity." Grandmother Ava nodded towards the formation. "That is an energy gathering formation. It gathers spirit energy in an area, and concentrates it, making it easier for higher level cultivators to cultivate. When elemental stones are added, they change the aspect of the energy gathered by the formation. The one here turns the spirit energy into earth spirit energy, or earth energy for short. When forming your dantian, the more the spirit energy matches the element of your spirit root and cultivation technique, the better."
So that was why Grandmother Ava brought Willow to her immortal cave.
"The second to last factor I'm going to mention is the catalyst the cultivator ingests. This is usually some sort of natural treasure or pill. A catalyst isn't necessary when forming a dantian, but not using a catalyst lowers the chance of forming a higher grade one. Using a catalyst also speeds up the formation of your dantian. As before, higher quality catalysts are better, especially those that match the element of your spirit root and cultivation technique."
Grandmother Ava pulled out a wooden box from her tunic. It must have had an energy concealing effect, because when she opened it, Willow sensed a large amount of concentrated, high quality spirit energy. Inside the box, sitting on a cushion, was a vial containing a glowing golden liquid.
"What is that?" Willow asked, her voice just a whisper.
"This is Earthblood," her grandmother said, her voice a whisper as well. "It is concentrated Earth essence, and the lifeblood of the Earth. It is an Immortal-grade natural treasure, and priceless beyond measure." She glanced at Willow. "Your parents found this for you when you were just a baby, for this exact purpose. I have kept it safe for you ever since they died."
Willow's heart squeezed, and tears blurred her vision. Her parents must have loved her so much to find something like this for her. Oh, how she missed them. A hand cupped her cheek.
"Let them out, little one," her grandmother said, the endearment comforting even though it no longer applied to Willow. "Don't hold the tears in."
Willow let the tears fall, though she didn't cry or sob. After a while, when no more tears fell, she wiped her eyes. She wasn't ashamed to cry, to show weakness, in front of her grandmother. If she couldn't trust Grandmother Ava, who could she trust?
"With all the preparations your parents and I have made, you are all but guaranteed to form a violet dantian."
"What about the last factor?" Willow asked with a frown. "You said that the catalyst was the second to last one."
"Luck," Grandmother Ava said, giving her a wry smile. "You can make all the preparations in the world, but some things are just up to luck."
That was the way of the world. Luck was an important part of a cultivator's strength. Poor luck could be overcome, though it wasn't easy.
"Given your rate of advancement, I estimate that it should take you two months to form your dantian with the help of this Earthblood," her grandmother continued.
"Just barely enough time to meet with Clan Wind Dance."
"Yes, exactly," Grandmother Ava said with a nod. "I want you to be there. I want you to see this Darian Wind Dance for yourself. You are the one who is getting married, and you should have the chance to see your future husband for yourself, before the negotiations are finalized. Who knows? Perhaps the two of you can be happy together."
Willow doubted that. Darian was a cripple. Even if she could overlook that, how could she be happy with a man she knew wouldn't love her? She was too tall, too mannish, and too muscular. Looks mattered to most people, and she knew she wasn't a beauty. Quite the opposite in fact. However, Willow didn't say this to her grandmother. Instead, she made a promise to herself not to mention her feelings on the matter.
"I have a feeling that this won't be a problem," Grandmother Ava continued. "If the boy is anything like his father, I think you two will get along well. At the very least, you can settle for friendship."
When her grandmother mentioned Darian's father, for a brief moment, she wore a sly smile. Willow wasn't sure what to make of that.
Grandmother Ava shook her head.
"Enough of that," she said. She handed the vial of Earthblood to Willow. "It's time for you to get started. Let me instruct you on the method our clan uses to form the dantian."